O'Gara's new-found confidence gives Ireland the edge

Munster's favourite son can help Ireland claim a prized scalp against the Wallabies today

The rise and rise of Ronan O’Gara should be enough to swing events Ireland’s way against Australia today. O’Gara used to be a bit of an ugly duckling of a fly-half, stuck in the backwater of a safety-first approach in which he took sanctuary behind the advantage line, giving himself plenty of time to pick his options. More often than not he would kick, and kick well, but he always looked an average club player in an average Irish team.

However, Munster’s Heineken Cup triumph last season has transformed O’Gara. Not only does his tactical kicking rival Dan Carter’s as the best in the world, but he has started to play flatter to the gain-line and has shown the passing skills to launch Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy outside. O’Gara looks comfortable in his own skin, and Ireland’s first try against South Africa last weekend showed his new confidence.